Continuous production of l-aspartic acid from ammonium fumarate using immobilized cells by capture on the surface of nonwoven cloth coated with a pyridinium-type polymer

Cells of Escherichia coli possessing aspartase activity were immobilized by capture on the surface of nonwoven cloth coated with 10 mg/g of poly (N-benzyl-4-vinylpyridinium chloride-co-styrene), a pyridinium-type polymer. Continuous operation of a fixed-bed column reactor containing 21.7 g/l of the immobilized cells produced l-aspartic acid in 95% yield from ammonium fumarate in the case where influent solution contained 0.1 mol/l of the fumarate and space velocity was 1.36 h⁻¹ at 30°C and pH 8.9. Immobilization on the coated nonwoven cloth insignificantly affected optimal pH of the biochemical reaction. Stability of enzymic activity of the immobilized cells was much improved by use of the coated nonwoven cloth as the supporting material instead of beads of insoluble pyridinium-type resin. l-Aspartic acid was obtained in 77% yield after 160 d of continuous operation, and the initial yield was estimated to require about 500 d for halving.